New syllabus for 2011 prelims
UPSC Wants To Test Candidates’ Aptitude More Than Their Subject Knowledge
Vishwa Mohan TNN
New Delhi: Introducing a system of level-playing field for aspirants of India’s elite services—IAS, IFS, IPS and others—the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has come out with a new syllabus for the 2011 preliminary examination, which among other skills and aptitude of the candidates will test their knowledge on “environmental ecology, bio-diversity and climate change”.
The aspirants will also be tested for English language comprehension skills. As of now, the English language test is part of qualifying papers without having any weightage in the civil services (Main) examination. Those with good English skills could now stand a greater chance to qualify for the main. The new syllabus will have two common papers of 200 marks each, unlike the current system that gives more weightage to subject paper (300 marks) than the common general awareness paper (150 marks).
Most government panels had advocated for laying greater emphasis on “aptitude” of candidates than their subject knowledges, arguing that specialists or experts of any particular subject may not necessarily be good civil servants. “The new syllabus will provide a level-playing field and equity, since all candidates will have to attempt common papers unlike the current format which provides for only one common paper,” an official said.
The first paper under the new syllabus will be more or less like the current general awareness paper with certain additions to it on issues like climate change and biodiversity.
The second paper—being introduced by replacing the optional (subject) paper-—will have aptitude, data interpretation and English language comprehension skills, more or less on the lines of MBA entrance test in India.
The second paper comprises general comprehension; inter-personal skills, including communication skills; logical reasoning and analytical ability; decision making and problem solving; general mental ability; basic numbers and their relations (secondary level); and data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables and data sufficiency). The English language comprehension skills will also be of secondary level.
The first paper, on the other hand, will test civil services aspirants on current events of national and international importance, Indian history, Indian and world geography, Indian polity and governance, economic and social development and general science, besides environmental ecology, bio-diversity and climate change.
The new syllabus is only meant for preliminary examination, which shortlists candidates for the CS (Main) Examination. “The syllabus for the CS (Main) will be changed in due course,” a ministry of personnel official said.
TESTING TIMES
• In 2011 UPSC prelims, candidates will be tested on environmental ecology, biodiversity and climate change and English language comprehension skills
• There will now be 2 common papers of 200 marks each, unlike 300 marks for subject paper and 150 for general awareness now
• The first paper will be like general awareness plus questions on climate change and bio-diversity
• The second paper will have aptitude, data interpretation and English language comprehension skills, more or less on the lines of MBA entrance tests in India
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